In 1985, Rotarians made a promise to the children of the world.  We promised them that we would eradicate polio from the face of the earth.  On the day that we made that promise there were 125 countries on 5 continents that were polio-endemic and during the year 1985 more than 350,000 children—nearly 1,000 children every single day—were paralyzed by or died as a result of the polio virus.

Since 1985 Rotarians have raised more than $2.1 billion for this noble cause and with that money Rotarians have been able to provide polio vaccine to more than 3.5 billion children.  Only two countries remain polio-endemic—Pakistan and Afghanistan—and the World Health Organization estimates that there are now more than 19 million children who—today—are alive and healthy and running and playing with their friends but who would have been paralyzed by polio but for Rotary’s polio eradication program.

Help us to finish what we started in 1985 so that someday soon we can celebrate the eradication of polio and the fact that no child will ever again be paralyzed by polio by joining District 7620’s NEW Polio Plus Society!